Chapter 54: Can They Really Be Called the Same Species?

The carriage cabin.

“I actually gained two abilities!”

Xia Mingyu stared in astonishment at the text reflected in the ice.

He had spent three grueling days just to ascend to the rank of True Magician, yet he’d only received one magical trick.

Now, with just one ascent of the Fourteen Billion Citizens’ Blessing, he’d been granted two abilities at once.

And most importantly, judging by their descriptions alone, whether it was the spark of light that could call out across the world, transcending space and time, or the Bond of Brothers that could awaken one’s exclusive Blessing and allow borrowing of its power—both were vastly stronger and far more growth-oriented than a mere magical trick.

“I’m sorry—I misunderstood you!” Xia Mingyu suddenly realized.

Only now did he understand his own ignorance; he wasn’t a blank slate reincarnated—he’d been carrying a dazzling, unstealable divine leg all along.

“Just ascending to the Transcendent rank was this insane—what if I ascended to the Morning Star rank? Would the abilities be outright invincible?”

A flicker of burning heat passed through Xia Mingyu’s eyes.

He suddenly understood why people in this world revered and obeyed those with high-rank Blessings.

In a certain sense, this truly was one of the most correct survival strategies on earth.

Because they really had cheat codes!

It’s like comparing a rural child left behind in the Four Provinces of Blue Star Online to an infant born with a Metropolis household registration and several commercial district properties—how do you even compete?

Even the hardest-working grindmaster would just lie down and curse the game designers!

On Blue Star, even if postnatal nutrition, education, and medical resources differed wildly, individuals were fundamentally similar—any common man could still rise in fury and spill blood five paces away.

But in this fantasy world, with Blessings protecting them and abundant Transcendent resources nurturing them, nobles’ martial power could truly tower far above commoners.

According to what he’d learned from the library’s books, a Morning Star-ranked Grand Knight like Karon Hughes, fully armored and mounted on a demonic beast like the Black Abyss Wolf, could easily slaughter his way seven times in and out of a hundred spear guards.

Even stepping down, a Transcendent Knight like Hawk was enough to terrorize and dominate Stone Town with sheer individual strength, running the Red Rose brothel and amassing a chest full of silver sols, while countless prostitutes screamed in the hell he created.

This meant that here, a common man’s rage could only mean banging his head against the ground.

This was the most beautiful world—and the most vile.

A paradise for nobles, a hell for all ordinary people.

Human rights would never be born, for the gap between individuals was unimaginable.

One is born with wealth, beauty, and the power to shred laws; another struggles his entire life for a few black loaves and unpayable taxes, laboring endlessly yet still trembling in fear.

Aside from the lack of reproductive isolation, could these two truly be called the same species?

Xia Mingyu fell into deep thought.

Beside him, Boge Chu watched Xia Mingyu’s face shift from calm to shock, then from shock to ecstatic joy, and finally to a gloomy, vacant stare—his heart filled with growing worry.

Could his lord be heartbroken because the ability he gained from his ascent was too weak?

Thinking this, the boy, who had intended to beg his lord to formally appoint him as a squire, clamped his mouth shut.

In this world, nobles above the Transcendent rank could appoint commoners and change their Blessing status to squire—but only a very limited number could be appointed.

And the ability granted after such a change would never be something as absurd as “Increased Tolerance to Hunger.”

That’s why so many commoners dreamed of becoming a noble’s squire.

After all, though one must serve the noble with lifelong loyalty and sacrifice, it was still a leap from hell to heaven compared to their former lives.

Tap-tap-tap.

The carriage stopped.

“My lord, we’ve arrived at Black Wolf Castle.” The coachman bowed respectfully.

“Good. When we disembark, you may return.”

Xia Mingyu snapped out of his thoughts, placed five copper sols on the carriage floor, and stepped down with Boge Chu.

“Open the gate! Let us pass immediately!”

The castle guards, upon seeing Xia Mingyu, shouted at once.

He remembered this nobleman—the one the lord himself had driven for!

Boom.

The heavy gate slowly swung open.

Not long after entering the castle, Xia Mingyu met Viscount Hughes hurrying to greet him.

“Your Highness, your journey seems to have gone smoothly!”

Karon glanced at the long string of emerald text hovering above Xia Mingyu’s head, and at Boge Chu behind him, whose profession blessing had vanished—he flashed a faint smile and offered sincere congratulations.

“There were minor setbacks, but overall it went well. However,” Xia Mingyu shifted tone.

“In Stone Town, for certain reasons, I attacked the Red Rose brothel and killed nearly everyone except the prostitutes. Will this affect you, Karon?” he said gravely.

He knew the Stone Town sergeant would soon report this to Karon—better he speak first.

“Your Highness, why did you do that?” Karon asked, puzzled.

“. I saw those prostitutes being oppressed like they were in hell—and they were forced into it. I couldn’t hold back.”

As he spoke, a flicker of rage still passed through Xia Mingyu’s pupils.

“Then this matter deeply affects me.”

At this, Karon’s expression turned solemn. His emerald eyes locked onto Xia Mingyu, pressing heavy psychological weight upon him.

Just as Xia Mingyu began to fear he’d angered the lord’s sacred pride, Karon spoke again:

“It will profoundly damage your image of me and our friendship. Oh, how I regret not slaughtering these maggots who defiled your eyes sooner—forcing Your Highness to do it yourself.”

“This is the greatest dereliction of duty in my entire career as a lord!” Karon clutched his chest, writhing in grief, his face as if he’d just lost a family member.

Xia Mingyu: “.”

For some reason, whether the proud lord or the cold hunter, people in this world always seemed to become more human, more humorous around him.

“Your Highness, I just hunted a young deer, barely born. It would make a delicious dish. May I invite you to dine with me tonight, as an apology for my dereliction?”

Karon smiled, his gaze toward the prince filled with quiet hope.

“No, I have no appetite today.”

Xia Mingyu thought of the corpses scattered across the Red Rose brothel—and his stomach churned with nausea.

“Then Your Highness should rest well.”

Karon’s face flickered with disappointment at the refusal, yet he still spoke with concern.

(End of Chapter)